Fans hold up a portrait of Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Miami.

"Jimmy Butler is great. He adds a toughness to them. He adds a championship DNA type of guy," James said after Thursday's loss. "It's always the same. [The Warriors] always figure it out.

Jimmy Butler was in a lot of pain after a scary fall against the Rockets in Game 2. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images. Butler played his first game for Golden State on Feb. 8 when the 25-26 Warriors ...

Butler needs to paint a good self-portrait of himself this year, too. He could opt out of his two-year, $102-million contract after this season and cash in on free agency.

Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at PHX Arena on April 08, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jimmy Butler dunks during Sunday’s game. ... But since 2019, part of the portrait of this Warriors era is the difficulty they sometimes have in these high-pressure, must-have games.